Epilogue II: Family Matters
"Blood's thicker than water, and when one's in trouble, best to seek out a relative's open arms." ~ Unknown
Bowser Jr. was dying.
Those four words, not at all unfamiliar to him, caused his chest to become heavier every time he repeated them in his head. Bowser Jr., the son of one of his greatest comrades and the possible heir to the Koopa Kingdom, was dying.
Fate was much too cruel.
It had been unexpected, the way he had shown up. He, Bowser, Kai, and Fyre had been locked in deadly combat with Hammer Bros., Bullet Bills, Goombas, and Koopas. All of them- those who had once called themselves Soldiers of Bowser- were ready to kill. Bowser had been enraged, he remembered. After all, what fool would dare attempt to turn the Koopa King's army against him?
The answer had come in the form of Bowser Jr.
The declarations that were made between father and son had been… odd, to say the least. On Bowser Jr.'s side, there were many accusations of cruel treatment and neglect. On his father's side, however, there were many badly thought out explanations of why he had been forced to neglect the child and how cruel though the treatment was, he had only done it out of some strange emotion called "love".
Man, what had that Princess Toadstool done to him?
It could not be said that Ganondorf had come to "love" the boy. After all, the kid had been a downright spoiled brat with a horridly big mouth to boot. And it didn't help that he was following in his father's footsteps and losing to that overweight plumber every time they tried to take over the Mushroom Kingdom or the universe.
But in the end, the boy had grown on him. Being born into a race that consisted of only women, it had been extremely hard for him to find someone to truly bond with. And it had to be said, when he arrived at the Smash Mansion and met world-dictator hopeful Bowser, he felt a sort of bond with the Koopa and his son.
The battle between father and son had been long and harsh. There was much blood spilt, many Goomba heads stomped on. Bowser had all the while pleaded and shouted abuse to the boy, imploring him to choose the right side.
Ganondorf knew that the dividing point between the two was Fyre, Bowser's Guardian. Although the Koopa King would never admit it, Fyre was much more than a Guardian to him. Such a bond had likely driven Junior to jealousy, only driving a stake of hate for his father even further into the young Koopa's heart.
He remembered all too well the cry of rage that was ripped from Bowser Jr.'s throat as he charge at Fyre. The Guardian of Bowser, too busy fending off Bullet Bills and numerous Goombas, did not have time to defend. It had been Bowser himself that leaped in front of his son, razor sharp claws raking through the air in an attempt to bat the boy away.
Said claws found his neck instead.
Now here he was, sitting next to his comrade and friend, watching as the young Koopa's slow, ragged breaths slowly began to expire. The heart monitor he was hooked up to kept up a steady, bleeping beat. It was a cruel thing, Ganondorf thought, for the healers to attempt to keep the boy alive for just a little longer by hooking him up to this.
It was only a countdown until he would breathe his last.
"Junior, Junior…" Bowser's voice was broken with tears, shattered by the cruel murder by his own claws. "Junior, forgive me… forgive me…"
Fyre placed a strong arm upon his Guardian, careful not to touch any of the spikes on his shell. In spite of his blotchy red eyes and running nose, the Guardian of Bowser said nothing. He had not known Junior like his Smasher had, but based on the memories he shared with Bowser, Ganondorf had no doubt that Fyre felt the exact same pain the poor Koopa King felt.
He heard footsteps entering the tent. Turning around, the King of Evil caught sight of Eclipse- strange to look at in his new, purified form- as he walked in and began talking to Drake. Although he was quite sure the Guardian of Wario was unaware of it, Ganondorf was watching his every move. But it was not until Eclipse moved on to speak with Kai that Ganondorf noticed two other people entering the tent.
The Hero and the Princess. Ganondorf noticed that the Hero's chest was heavily bandaged and he walked with a limp. Normally, he would lash out at them immediately, but in the light of recent events, he would spare them.
The Princess' face was solemn as she and the green-clad Hero walked up to them, her dirt and blood-stained dress beautiful in the dim light. Golden eyes locked with blue as the two Hylians regarded their Gerudo enemy. Ganondorf, for his part, did not allow his gaze to waver as he too regarded them, tensing in case either of them chose to lash out at him while he was in his suffering, vulnerable state.
Link, who was normally the silent one, spoke first. "… Ganondorf."
The Gerudo King responded with a very slight nod of his head. "Hero. Your Royal Highness…"
A muscle in Link's jaw twitched. For a moment, Ganondorf could've sworn that he was preparing himself to pounce. But it was by a small touch of his elbow from the Princess that the tension in him ceased and he spoke again.
"I… I would like to speak with you," the Hero of Light chose his words with care. "If I may-"
Ganondorf held up a hand. "Let us speak outside… this is no place for old rivals to talk."
It was unexpected, the way he said rivals rather than enemies. He saw a flash of surprise behind Link's piercing blue eyes. As the Princess stayed behind to comfort the weeping Koopa King and his Guardian, the two walked outside.
For a moment, an awkward silence fell upon the Triforce Keepers. Then, Ganondorf chose to speak.
"He was much like a son to me, you know…" he gestured back to the tent, where Bowser Jr. lay. "Spoiled and not too bright, yes, but nonetheless… the life of a Gerudo King is a lonely one."
Link shifted uncomfortably. "Yes… I suppose… given the circumstances…"
"I will also have you know," Ganondorf continued quietly. "That I no longer have any intention to launch an attack on Hyrule." Link opened his mouth to speak, but the Gerudo silenced him with a hand. "My time has come, Hero. I was supposed to die from the moment my first Guardian- you know Sorius, do you not?- was killed by yours. It was only by divine intervention that, though I was to pass into the Sacred Realm to atone for my sins, I was forced to descend upon Kai and make him bear the burden of whatever is left of my soul." he solemnly bowed his head. "I… I only wish you and the Queen the best…"
"… Zelda… has chosen to abdicate," Link whispered. The Gerudo King had to strain in order to hear his voice. "She has decided to give the throne to Rinku… and Cimar… he shall be Head Advisor."
This came as a surprise to the Gerudo King. Yet at the same time, he knew that it was inevitable that the Princess would give up her throne. "Your Guardian shall make a mighty King, and…" he hesitated. "Hers shall make a wonderful scholar."
Link nodded his agreement and again, they descended into silence. As he waited for the Hero to gather his thoughts, Ganondorf began to reflect on the more recent times. Sure, there had been many spats between him and the Hero back before their souls had been stolen. It had even gotten to the point where they were each placed in separate wings of the Smash Mansion so as to avoid completely demolishing it.
But something had definitely changed over the hundred years when they were kept in jars and the time when they were forced to work together through their Guardians. Ganondorf had seen the Hero for who he truly was, the brave Knight devoted entirely to his Queen and the lonely farmhand in search of adventure. Link, meanwhile, had learned about the great responsibility the King of Evil had to shoulder and how he wished to use the Triforce to better not only himself, but his race as well.
Such talk had garnered a kind of respect for the other in each of them. While it was not nearly enough respect for either of them to consider the other a friend, it was enough for them to resist the temptation to spat at the other as they passed in the newly rebuilt halls. Not only that, but perhaps maybe, just maybe, they would someday meet again, not as enemies on the battlefield, but as friends in the Sacred Realm.
"I suppose… a congratulations is in order," he gave Link a small smile as the Hero's eyes widened in surprise. "Do not think me blind, Hero. I saw quite clearly the diamond upon her Highness' finger."
Link blushed. "Y-Y-Yes… I-" he swallowed. "I…"
"You love her, do you not?" Ganondorf asked. "Is that why you serve her with such devotion?"
Link steeled his nerves and nodded. "It is."
Before either of them could speak again, a low beep was heard from inside the tent. Such a sound was soon followed by a wracked sob and a scream of intense pain as the countdown to Bowser Jr.'s final breath ran its course. Ganondorf himself felt a pang deep within him as he realized that never again would he help Bowser attempt to transform the boy into the powerful, bloodthirsty ruler they both had believed he was destined to be.
Ganondorf bowed his head. "I wish you- both of you- the best... I hope that when we next see each other, it will be in the Sacred Realm." he turned to walk back into the tent.
A strong arm stopped him. "Wait."
He turned. "Is there more you wish to tell me, Her-… Link?"
Link nodded. "I… Both of us would be honored, Ganondorf, if you served as my Best Man."
Deep within the Gerudo King, he felt something hum. It was rather strange, as he had never felt such humming before. Perhaps, if the Hero so felt that he should be given this honor, he could spare to continue living and breathing just a little longer. Perhaps he respected the Hero more than he thought he had.
For the first time in living memory, the King of Evil knelt before the Hero of Hyrule and wept.
Tellius was a barren wasteland. It was all too obvious to Roy the moment the four of them stepped out of the portal and onto the bare ground. While he had started in surprise, Cam, Ike, and Marth simply bore the desecrated appearance of the continent with some contempt before they began walking. A very bewildered Marquess of Phrae followed them.
Master Hand had been kind enough to open a portal to Tellius at Cam's and Ike's request. Worried for their safety, Marth had proposed that he and Roy travel to the lost continent with them. Roy, of course, had jumped at the idea.
Now, standing here upon a continent that had long ago lost its former glory, Roy could not help but feel a sense of loss. From the stories Ike used to tell him, he imagined Tellius to be glorious, perhaps even more glorious than Elibe. He used to dream of travelling to the golden Tower of Ashera and taking on the Dragons of Goldoa.
Roy was led to a cemetery, where Cam and Ike both fell to their knees before tombstones. The Marquess of Phrae knew for a fact that the stone Ike was kneeling before, topped by a stone statue of a beautiful young woman with a golden ring upon her finger, belonged to Mia. Cam, on the other hand, chose not to identify who was buried beneath the earth to anyone, not even when Marth had implored him to.
Roy felt like weeping. Phrae, by now, had been desecrated in such a way that the entire continent of Elibe would surely fall. He thought of Eliwood, his poor father, and how disappointed he surely must be. His thoughts soon turned to Lord Hector of Ostia and Lilina, his childhood friend…
"Hey, guess what? We won," Ike's voice broke the silence, echoing across the empty plains. "I know it took a while, but… I'm here now, right? Everything's going to be okay…"
Roy bit his bottom lip at the sound of Ike's voice. While he did not know any of the people in this graveyard personally, there was something about the way the mercenary had so brokenly spoke that tugged at his own conscience. He soon came to a resolve: no matter how busy he was with the reconstruction, no matter how sore and tired he became, he would one day go back to Elibe.
There was more silence between them, broken only by the gentle rustling of dead plants as a light breeze blew through them. The Marquess of Phrae shifted uncomfortably as his cape, still splattered with blood, gently undulated with the draft. It was not long before he became uncomfortable with this mourning silence, but it was Marth that spoke next.
"I can see that… that this place is in desperate need of rebuilding," the prince said bleakly. Ike and Cam both tore their gaze away from their respective tombstones. "We can start with planting seeds… some of the others can help. We can make this place what it once was."
"If we can find fertile ground first," Cam said quietly. He adjusted his red scarf slightly as the breeze threatened to take it away. "As far as I know, whatever the fires didn't burn likely died long ago. It's said that if we can find a Heron somewhere, we can drag 'em over to the Serenes Forest Shrine, and-"
"How do we know if that thing is still standing?" Ike asked. "We both saw that vision. There was a fire. Pretty much everyone in the United Bird Kingdom was killed, including my old friend Tibarn."
"And let's not forget that we'll also need a Heron," Roy couldn't help but add. "From what I know about them, they have no fighting ability whatsoever. The possibility of one being alive after so long is-"
"Very likely."
This was a new voice. It was soft and light, like a French Horn playing a ballad. There was an ethereal quality to the voice, as if the owner did not truly belong to this world. Yet at the same time, there was a slight tinge to it that, quite simply, screamed "terra firma".
There was another familiar quality to the voice as well. It was the voice. This was the exact voice Roy could've sworn he heard singing before he had been released from his glass prison.
The four men turned to face this newcomer, but as Roy soon discovered, the other three already knew who he was. The Marquess of Phrae vaguely remembered overhearing Nask and Cam discussing their meeting with a strange man in a cloak, who had given them their shard of the Smashball and transported them to Smashville. Now, as he watched pale and delicate hands slowly lowering the hood, it took every ounce of self-control to prevent him from crying out in surprise.
The face was wide open and pristine, giving the man an angelic complexion. A waterfall of golden hair cascaded gently down his back. The eyes, green like a forest bathed in sunlight, possessed a dream-like quality and reflected the man's obvious wisdom. But perhaps most remarkable of all were the two pure white wings sprouting from the man's back. They were not unlike Pit's, large and bird-like, but they were both bent at an odd angle, as if he had broken them at some point. The smile on the man's face was small, but seemed to shine brighter than any sun.
"R-Rafiel!" Ike's disbelief was plastered all over his face. "Wha- How? Why? I don't-"
The Heron chuckled as Ike sputtered on. "Ike of Crimea, must you act so surprised? After all, do you not remember that I returned to the desert with the Wolf Queen once we conquered the Tower?"
"Yeah, but that still doesn't explain-"
"Lady Ashunera, my old friend," Rafiel said quietly. "While the goddess could do nothing to save her lands, she was able to bestow her protection upon me. I was able to escape just as the Subspace Army took the desert… and since then have served as an aid to the Guardians and you Smashers."
"I suppose it was you, then, that Ike and I would hear singing on lonely nights?" Marth asked.
"And it was you that was singing when our jars started cracking right?" Roy added.
Rafiel nodded. "Yes… that was my task during the War of the Guardians… and now that the war has ended, there is a new task that I must perform." he spread his arms out wide, gesturing to the barren wasteland behind him. "The goddess Ashunera has spoken again. It is her wish that the land grow and prosper once again. And, if you three would be so kind as to help, there is no doubt that Tellius will eventually reach its former glory… and even surpass it, if all goes well."
"… I can bring in people from Altea…" Marth whispered, his youthful face lighting up as he spoke. "Surely they will be happy to come help rebuild…"
"The Guardians will do everything they can to get this place all patched up," Cam said confidently. "And who knows, maybe I can start my own mercenary guild with a couple of them…"
"I can help rebuild Crimea…" Ike said. "Make it just like how it used to be with Elincia… and Geoffery… and Lucia…"
Roy shifted uncomfortably as all eyes turned on him. Never having visited this land before, he was unsure as to what he could contribute. But something in Rafiel's kind gaze compelled him to speak, forced him to admit to the guilt that was raging through him.
"I… I have no connection to this land. Marth has stayed here before, when his Guardian first landed where she did. Cameron and Ike have both been born and raised in this land… but I… I am a stranger here. And I do not believe it to be fitting that a stranger should rebuild a land once so prosperous."
Rafiel smiled, his radiance seeming to become brighter as he did. "Ah, dear Marquess of Phrae, don't you know? Every kingdom, every continent, every home was built upon by a stranger. Stone by stone, all lands have been created by one who did not come from there. However, it is not a matter of whether or not the stranger belongs in the land to make it prosper…" his green eyes twinkled. "It is whether or not the stranger is willing to place his very best effort in the building of the land- of the kingdom- and allowing it to grow and prosper. Because stranger or not, once the kingdom is built, you belong to it whether you are a man of Tellius or a child of Elibe."
Roy smiled as a wave of relief washed over him. He had never thought of it that way. "I… yes, I understand now. Thank you."
Rafiel nodded once before he turned to the rest of the group. "… The Serenes Shrine… still stands. I believe Ike laid witness to the rebirth of a forest once before. It would be an honor if Lords Marth and Roy and Sir Cameron could witness such a miracle as well."
Without another word, he turned and began walking towards a large mass of ruins far away. Ike followed him immediately. Marth hesitated at first, but soon trailed after them with a swish of his blue cape. Roy hung back a little bit, making sure that Cam was coming.
The Guardian of Ike had knelt before his tombstone again. As Roy watched, he lowered his scarf and pressed his lips to it briefly. Then, quickly straightening, he covered his face once again and dashed after the other two. Roy only glanced once more at the tombstone long enough to read the name etched upon it before he too followed.
Natasha…
The first thing Yoshi thought as Mah and Beeh explained what was happening to him was "NO." Not only what they- and pretty much any Guardian that enjoyed explosions- were planning was dangerous, but it was also potentially life threatening! Who knows who would be stuck in the mansion once the plan was carried out?
"It's going to be beautiful, Yoshi!" Beeh said excitedly as she waved a few Pikmin around. Although she no longer had Olimar living within her, she still remained close to her Pikmin. "With big lights and loud sounds and just stuff going BOOM!"
"BOOM!" the Pikmin cheered.
Yoshi frowned, green brows knitting together in concern. "I don't know, you two, it sounds dangerous…"
"Danger should be our middle names by now," Mah mused as she placed little black squares on the stone floor, "We've been through so much, this is practically a warm-up for us."
"Guys! Hey guys!" Yoshi turned around, watching as Ridere hopped- more like hobbled- cheerfully down the basement stairs. According to Xavier, both of his knees had suffered heavy damage from flying debris and Chain of Light. Master Hand had fashioned knee braces for the boy that allowed him to walk, but did little to ease the pain. "Snake and I found more C4! He's piling it all into his box right now."
Yoshi watched Mah's grin widen. "Great! Just have someone bring them all down here and this place will go sky high!"
Ridere nodded. "JB and Sam are messing with the toilets right now. I'll let you guys know when you have to clear out, but make sure to get the foundations of this place, okay?"
"Got it, Ridere!" Beeh said cheerfully, giggling a little as Ridere limped his way back up the stairs.
Mah frowned as she surveyed the numerous C4 around her. "Hm… we're going to need a little more than this if we're going to blow this place up…" she turned to her Smasher. "Yoshi, can you go see if anyone has sticks of dynamite? I don't know if this C4 will be enough…"
"Sure," Yoshi replied as he mounted the stairs.
The Smash Mansion was surprisingly quiet for the day after the battle. The slaves had held a celebration late into the night, but not a single person in the Guardian army had taken part in the celebrations. They had seen too much, lost too much to find the will to kick back and relax.
It didn't matter. There was much rebuilding and healing needed to be done. It was quite possible that all of this would go on for years. But in the end, whether everyone took three days or three years to adjust, it would be worth it. Smashville was freed. That was all that mattered.
The first person Yoshi ran into was Nao. The Guardian of Mewtwo was in the process of stringing together a long chain of grenades, obviously intended to level the mansion in some way. Yoshi watched as Nao bit his bottom lip, trying his best not to accidentally set off anything.
"Hi Nao!" the little dinosaur greeted cheerfully, causing the Guardian of Mewtwo to jump. The young man quickly looked at Yoshi before setting down his latest project and smiling.
"Hey Yoshi. You nearly gave me a heart attack there," Nao grinned. "Luckily, I didn't pull any pins on accident…"
Yoshi let out a low chuckle. "Well, Mah needs some more explosives down there. Do you think you can spare a few grenades?"
Nao gestured to his chain. "What do you think I've been making this for? C4 is nice and all, but an explosion's not an explosion without a good, solid grenade." he frowned. "Then again, of course, I don't know if this'll be long enough to wind around the dungeon, though…"
Yoshi inspected the chain, taking in the metallic bands that held the grenades into place. It was actually a beautiful piece of work, strong enough to drag about several pounds of grenades, but not too heavy to carry around either. The Smasher nodded his approval.
"It's very good," he stated. "Maybe you can get a career as a metalworker once all of this is done?"
Nao shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. I'm not really sure what I wanna do with my life once this is all done and over with." he frowned. "Mewtwo… well, he wants me to continue studying with him to improve my abilities or something like that, but I think I'll just travel a little. Worker a few jobs here and there, the like…" he shrugged. "Anyways, if this still isn't enough explosives for you, try talking to JB and Sam. Last I heard, they were fooling around the armory when they found Link's old bomb supply…"
Yoshi was off before Nao could finish his sentence. Never before had the little dinosaur ran at such a speed. After all, when two people you knew would cause trouble found a crate of explosives, it was only natural that you tried everything you could to prevent them from blowing themselves to smithereens, right?
Luckily for Yoshi, he caught Sam and JB just as they were about to light the bombs with Fire Arrows they took from Young Link. The younger Hero of Time was rather put out by this. He had wanted to light the things himself!
"Well, okay, what if we stick them in all the toilets, then light 'em?" JB asked as Jigglypuff licked a bomb experimentally. The pink Pokemon gagged at the flavor, winning a laugh from Yoshi as he approached.
"Hey Yoshi," Young Link greeted before he turned his attention to JB. "Well, as much fun as that would be, how in the heck are we going to figure out how to light them? They'll be submerged in toilet water!"
Sam thought a moment. "Okay, maybe not the toilet, but the place where all the stuff goes once they're flushed?"
"The ocean?" Yoshi asked incredulously. "Sam, you can't blow up the ocean!"
"Well… uh… isn't there a sanitation tank or something around here?"
JB wrinkled his nose. "I don't know and frankly, I don't think I wanna go look for the thing. I intend to come out of this epic explosion of awesomeness not smelling like I decided to take a dive after my waste."
"Well, maybe if we put the bombs under the toilets instead…" Young Link began.
"Mah says she needs explosives for the foundations," Yoshi piped up. "So maybe you can share a few?"
"Yeah, but once we share them, there'll still be some leftover," JB pointed out. "And therefore, I say we stick them in the toilets, light 'em with Fire Arrows, then run like Hell."
"Well, do we have to use them on the toiets?" Sam asked. "There's the throne too… and the kitchen… and the attic… oh! And-"
Yoshi heard running feet behind him. Running feet and shouting. Every person standing in the room whirled as the door burst open. Ridere stood there, neon green hair standing on end as he leaned against the doorframe, panting.
"Snake… and Mewtwo… they've finished planting everything on the outside of this place. Mah and Beeh are all set downstairs. If you guys are gonna do anything, do it now. We've got exactly three minutes before we blow this place to bits!"
JB spoke first, gesturing to the crate of bombs. "Is Nao back there somewhere? Because I wanna stick these in the toilets ASAP!"
At that moment, Nao teleported into the room. Being the Guardian of Mewtwo had left its mark on the young man. He now possessed minor telekinesis among other psychic abilities. "One major toilet busting coming up!" he grimaced. "Just try not to stand too close to the mansion when all the shit goes down."
With a flick of his wrist, Nao sent the crate of bombs flying. A rather loud plop! from the nearest toilet told them that a bomb had found its mark. This was soon followed by quite a few more plops and it was not long before Nao waved his hand over Young Link's Fire Arrow quiver and sent them flying as well.
It took exactly ten seconds for the urgency of the situation to dawn on those in the room.
"… TO DA WINDOW!" Ridere declared as he rammed into it with his shoulder. It shattered with a resounding crack!, sending the young man flying down into the bushes below. His charge was soon followed by leaps as Sam, Young Link, and JB all jumped down into the bushes below.
"Let's go, Yoshi!" Nao shouted, grabbing the dinosaur by the tail before he could protest and leaping out. For a moment, time seemed to slow down as Yoshi's large nose just barely missed the shards of glass before him.
Then there was a great boom! A warmth spread through the air, followed by a truly horrendous stench. Yoshi felt like he was choking, his eyes watering as he barely made out pieces of porcelain flying past him…
Nao landed on top of Jigglypuff, which greatly offended JB's Smasher. As the others looked on and laughed, Jigglypuff delivered a Double Slap to both of Nao's cheeks before preening herself and hopping towards JB. Yoshi managed to make Nao let go of his tale long enough to run to Beeh and Mah.
Mah held a detonator in her hand. Sooner or later, she would have Mewtwo physically remove the pins of the chain of grenades that was no doubt attached to the foundations of the mansion and once that was all done and good, they would activate the C4's. If done correctly, the Smash Mansion would be no more. If not…
Well, Yoshi hoped they didn't mind smelling like a sanitation tank.
"Alright Mewtwo, I think we're all ready," Mah said, nodding at the Psychic Pokemon. Mewtwo closed his eyes and opened them again, signaling that the pins had been pulled.
"We have 28 seconds to stare at this thing one more time," Snake said gruffly. "So make it count."
"Wait, why are we blowing up this place again?" Young Link asked. "Aren't you two going to hang around here when this is all over?"
JB shrugged. "Yeah, we are, but…"
The unsaid reason hung in the air. While it was quite evident that Young Link did not yet understand why the mansion had to go, it had been all too evident to Yoshi from the moment Snake and Mewtwo suggested eliminating the mansion.
The Smash Mansion had been raised by Master Hand long ago as a symbol of peace and justice. A hundred years ago, it was known as the place where the mightiest heroes and even a few villains of the known worlds would gather in fights to prove their worth. These fights grew and became the Smash Tournaments, as did the fame of Smashville as it slowly transformed from a quiet town to a bustling city.
Tabuu's conquest had transformed it for the worst. While the Smashers were encased in their jars, it was as if everything in the once glorious city fell to decay. Under Tabuu's iron fist, there was little room for mercy.
This was the last symbol of Tabuu's ascent to power. This was the final reminder of who that monster was. Yoshi was a kind-hearted being, who always tried to see the best in everyone. But in the wake of everything they had been through, even he had to agree that it was time that the past one hundred years were forgotten.
Ridere was quietly counting under his breath. "Ten… nine… eight…"
He would miss this place. True, as it stood now, it was a horribly twisted version of the Mansion he had come to know and love, but there was a certain magic about it that Yoshi knew he would sorely miss. He had some good times as well as bad times, made new friends and engaged in combat with bitter rivals.
"Seven… six… five…"
There were other things as well. He remembered the first time he came to the mansion. Jigglypuff and Ness had been fooling around the front lawn. It had taken a while, but Yoshi eventually worked up the nerve to speak to them. A beautiful friendship had been struck then, one that continued to transcend time…
"Four… three… two… one…"
Here it was. The final goodbye. Yoshi took a deep breath, allowing his eyes to take in the windows, the balconies, the walls, everything one last time…
"ZERO!"
There was nothing more romantic than a getaway at a random lake. Or at least, that's what a lot of couples seemed to believe. But according to Chi, it was just another day of helping out.
He had grown up in a tiny village, one that was far enough away from Smashville so as to not have to send anyone to work in the factory, but close enough for Tabuu's influence to spread. He had worked around the place as a handyman most of the time, acting in many odd-jobs around the place. While most people were too busy grumbling about their living conditions or their kids or their wife to really reward him in any way, Chi always found time to help Mr. Dinkleberg out with his gardening or help little Johnny King with washing his auntie's feet.
It was probably because of his kind nature that he was occasionally perceived as naïve. He wasn't really sure why, but the twins- Picho and Pichn- seemed to really enjoy coming for his help. In fact, it was his agreeing to assist them that had led him to this position.
Squall sat right next to him, looking through a telescope at a clump of bushes across the way. If Chi guessed correctly, Toon Link was no doubt hiding behind said bushes, perhaps waiting to give the signal. Up in a tree sat Kage, a pair of binoculars positioned over her eyes as she continued to spy on the two Pokemon below.
Pikana and Pikachu. Sparks had flown when they first met. These sparks ignited a small ember, which since then had grown into a roaring flame. It was this flame that had sustained the two throughout the night, as they both lay in separate cots, recovering from injured graver than the others.
Chi wrinkled his nose as he heard the two whispering sweet words to each other on the other side of the bushes. True, it was rather sweet to hear them, but that didn't mean he had to enjoy it. Squall, never the one for romance, was scowling as well. It was all too evident he wanted to start the prank soon.
Chi shifted his weight impatiently, hoping that Toon Link wouldn't take too long with the wind. His adrenaline spiked up to new heights as he felt the shift, the glorious realization that it was about to happen. They would jump out and attack Pikana and Pikachu, carrying out a prank that Picho and Pichn, her brothers, had so cleverly devised. Grinning, Chi pumped his gun, and-
"You... Chi..."
Chi whipped around, nearly knocking Squall in the face as he did so. Donkey Kong stood behind him, the great ape tall and menacing in the shadows of the trees. Chi gulped, gripping his paintball gun harder as Donkey Kong looked around, regarding the situation.
"Come... Diddy ask for you..."
Chi noticed that his every word was halted, as if he were trying to speak through a dam. Giving an apologetic nod to Squall, the Guardian of Diddy Kong dropped his gun and ran after the large gorilla. They travelled across the newly grown fields for quite a bit before Donkey Kong stopped him in front of a pure white tent.
"Wait here... I go see if Diddy... if Diddy... can make final goodbye..."
Final goodbye...?
Donkey Kong was gone before Chi could say anything. Trembling, Chi sat down and took deep breaths. There was no way, just no way that this could be happening. Perhaps Diddy was pulling a prank on him. Diddy always liked pranks, right?
There was a movement behind him. Could Donkey Kong had returned so quickly? No, for as Chi turned around, it was Chester that was exiting the tent. Chi stood up to greet him, but the Guardian of Pichu's swollen eyes surprised him.
"Ch-Chester... you're..."
Chester turned to face him, his face long and drawn, eyes wide with sorrow. "... Pichu... he didn't make it..."
It was as if a dead weight had dropped in Chi's stomach. "What? But-"
"... He died, Chi..." Chester whispered. "He died trying to save Smashville..." Chester took a deep, shuddering breath, fighting to keep his emotions under control. "His greatest asset... his thunder... proved to be his ultimate downfall... because even though he managed to shock Tabuu well, he shocked himself as well. Normally he would've shrugged it off, but this last bolt... he just couldn't take it, and..." he trailed off.
"Chester..." Chi placed a hand on his fellow Guardian's shoulder. "He died a hero, Chester."
"He was more than a hero, Chi," Chester corrected. "He was a Smasher, a hero, and a friend. And I, for one, will never forget him."
"Maybe... do you think that... that you'll be able to see him, wherever you live?" Chi asked. Chester shook his head.
"No. My home was decimated long ago. There is no going back. Instead, I shall do what Pichu wished to do once the war was over. I shall travel the world, observing and documenting all that I see... perhaps I'll even be of some help to Teal and his book..."
Chi smiled at him. "You'll be of great help, I know it..." he suddenly heard a noise from inside the tent, a loud squawk that could only come out of the nose of a large, bulky animal. "Oh no... Chester, I have to go."
Chester nodded. "I understand, Chi... and... if I may be so bold..." he gave Chi's shoulder a strong squeeze. "Be brave, Chidoriss. That's what Diddy would have wanted."
There it was. That horrible, horrible finality. Chi's shoulder slumped as he entered the tent, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Diddy Kong was dead.
And there was nothing he could do to help.
Seven dead.
Three missing.
Luigi's hand curled into a fist again as he counted out the number of people yet again in his head. There was nothing else for him to do. Here he was, sitting with one arm in a sling, an icepack over one swollen eye, his nose heavily bandaged, and a massive wound on his leg hidden from him in a roll of gauze. Tabuu's Chain of Light, which had cut through him like butter as the larger man flailed, had sliced into him so deeply that it cut to the bone.
According to Dr. Mario, if it had cut any deeper, he would have needed to get an amputation. According to Xavier, he should not participate in any major reconstruction attempts for a while, which meant he would be next to useless in the rebuilding. According to Teal, if he did not remember to change his bandages at least four times a day, he would most definitely take ill.
It was strange, though. He wasn't at all afraid of taking ill. Dying, he was afraid of. Amputation, he was definitely afraid of. Ghosts, Goombas, Koopas, Bullet Bills, spiders, snakes, bugs… he was afraid of all of them. But an illness wasn't something he could see and cower over. When it invaded, it would be inside him. And Luigi knew the inside of himself enough to detect an intruder.
He had a strange train of thought, to say the least. But then again, who could blame him? Stuck in a jar for a hundred years, then finally being released, it could take a toll on a plumber such as himself. The green-clad plumber now pushed the excess thoughts from his head, narrowing his eyes as he attempted to assess the situation at hand.
Peach was a mess. Ever since she released all the anger she had pent up inside her on Tabuu, she was now little more than a sobbing mess. Mario had not yet regained consciousness by the time the blue man fell. In fact, when Bowser himself carried his old enemy in, the Smasher Leader was little more than a ragdoll in the large dragon's arms.
MS and Sakura were both attempting to calm the sobbing princess down. Twice already she had tried to rise and rush into the operating tent, and twice did MS and her Guardian have to stop her. Sakura spoke in a quiet, hushed voice, occasionally patting Peach's arm in an attempt to soothe her. MS, meanwhile, sat and listened quietly, only moving when Peach started getting out of control. Luigi noticed that occasionally, his body would quake with a dry sob.
He did not have any tears left in him to shed.
Green was pacing back and forth, dark brows furrowed deep and thought. Occasionally, Luigi would catch his Guardian's eye, an unspoken question passing between them. But every time this happened, Green answered with a quick shake of his head before he would quicken his pace.
It seemed like an eternity, but Xavier finally allowed them into the tent. The Guardian of Doctor Mario- who himself was training to be a great healer- was shaking with exhaustion. But it was with a head held high that he led the five to their dearest friend and an apologetic shake of his head as he hustled away to tend to other patients.
Luigi hung back as the others flew forward to embrace the red plumber, too horrified with the sight before him to move. Tabuu, as his final act on earth, had given his brother a curse. A curse that no amount of medicine, magic, or fighting in the world could ever cure.
Mario was bound to a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down.
It took a long while for the others to come to this conclusion. But eventually, they did. Luigi could only look on with great tears rolling down his cheeks as the others gasped and whispered, the realization of how heavy the situation truly was hitting them like a ton of bricks. Mario, however, remained composed as those around him tittered and worried, his gaze fixed only on Luigi.
"Mario... I..." Peach swallowed. "I... Oh Mario! I'm so sorry!"
Mario shook his head. "There is nothing to be sorry for, Peachy..." he reached up and touched her face. "Nothing that has happened today is your fault."
"Mario... the chair..." MS whispered. "You... you'll get better, right? Right?"
Mario shook his head. "This is permanent. You should all know that now. It is of no use lying to you if it will only hurt you all in the end... especially... especially if I intend to renounce my claim to the title of Leader of the Smashers..."
Luigi shook his head. "Brother, don't say such things! Surely you can continue to lead, even if you have no use for your legs! Brother, please!"
"No, Luigi," Mario said firmly. "It is my choice. As of today, I shall retire as Leader of the Smashers and Protector of the Mushroom Kingdom. That is final."
"But what will you do?" Green protested. "You're a lot more than just a Smasher and a plumber, Mario! You're a hero!"
Mario remained silent, only looking to Sakura for help. All eyes turned to the Guardian of Peach. Sakura, for her part, remained relatively calm as she opened her mouth to speak.
"I... I agree with Mario's decision. While he must hang up his cap and give up the life he once led, he can contribute so much more now... the Mushroom Kingdom needs a new protector... the Galaxy needs a new sentinel... and..." here, she turned to Luigi, locking her sharp blue eyes with his. "The Smashers need a new leader."
Luigi immediately shook his head. "No! I cannot accept this!"
"You must, Brother..." Mario said quietly.
"It is too much! I will not do it! I cannot match up to my brother in any way!" Luigi's voice was desperate now, frantically trying to find some way to alleviate this situation. "I am inferior to my brother in all ways, I am a coward, I-"
"No, Luigi," it was Green that spoke now, dark eyes flashing with determination. "Whether you like it or not, you are notinferior to Mario in any way!"
"You are my equal and my superior, Luigi," Mario told him. "You are my brother and my heir. While MS is perfectly capable of leading, he is still young, still inexperienced. He can serve well as the Leader of the Guardians... but you... you are a strong, courageous person. It was you that endured years of torture within a glass jar without complaint and it was you that was willing to risk everything to save Smashville." he hesitated. "I... I intend to settle down, Luigi... I intend to settle down and right a wrong that I committed long ago..." he reached up and touched Peach's cheek, gently rubbing away the tears glistening on them. "A hundred years ago, in fact..."
"But in the meantime, someone has to carry on Mario's duties," Green said. "It can't be me or MS... or any other Smasher, for that matter. Because frankly, no one else knows the Mushroom Kingdom better than the green-capped man himself."
Luigi tried one last time. "No... I cannot..."
He looked at each of them, meeting every single pair of eyes. He saw the sparks dancing within them, sparks that were all too familiar to the green-clad plumber. They had been present in the eyes of Toads every time Mario swore to return their Princess to them. They had been present in the eyes of the Smashers as they faced off against Tabuu during the First Subspace War. They had been there in the eyes of the Guardians, all of whom knew they were possibly only seconds away from certain death.
Something about these sparks ignited something within him. At once, he was filled with a warmth that he had not felt in over a hundred years. For the first time in his life, he felt whole, complete. No longer was he Luigi, Mario's cowardly brother, the Other Brother, the Pants-Wetter of the Mushroom Kingdom. No, now he was Luigi Mario, one of the mightiest heroes of the day and proud Smasher of Green.
"The Mushroom Kingdom needs a protector, Luigi," MS said. "And you're the right guy for the job."
"The Galaxy needs a new sentinel," Sakura added. "There is no other person in the world that has travelled throughout the stars more than you."
"The Smashers need a leader," Green grinned. "And let's face it, there's no one else that can do it."
For the first time in years, Luigi smiled. "This plumber needs to be his own man." he raised his eyes to the heavens. "He has been living in his brother's shadow for too long."